OVERSEAS BRATS

SENT BY JOE CONDRILL

Hi Brat Friend!
Hope this finds you doing well in the first full month of Spring!

                        *********

       In this update:

       1.  Brat reflection.

       2.  How can we help you?  Where can we get you involved?

       3.  Brats Facebook groups where you can meet Brats living in the same State.

       4.  Sponsorships for reunions.

       5.   Upcoming events.

       6.  Weekly OSB updates.

       7.  You.

                 *********

1.  Brat reflection

It all began as an idea: Why not try to help Brats and develop an organization that focuses on building up, involving and serving those with our special heritage?
In the days before the internet and Social Media this meant utilizing 'traditional media' (i.e. print or broadcast) to get the word out, and lots of phone calls and 'regular snail mail' to follow-up with Brats.

Tuesday, April 8th marked the 28th anniversary of the founding of OVERSEAS BRATS.

What began as an idea has grown into a seven day a week job of serving the needs of thousands of

Brats & Educators, regardless when/where they were. 

2.  How can we help you?   Where can we get you involved?

3.  Brats Facebook groups where you can meet Brats living in the same State.

Facebook groups for Brats living now in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and the Washington, DC area have been created thanks to the hard work of Barbara Walker Bartlett. Just type in on Facebook: (State) Military & Overseas Brats in the search section of Facebook or ask Joe at: joeosbpres@sbcglobal.net for the specific link. (We plan to add additional Brat State groups in the future.)

4. Sponsorship for reunions.

• These are possible! Ask Joe at: joeosbpres@sbcglobal.net for ideas.

5. Upcoming events.-Does your school/base/community have an upcoming reunion? Let OVERSEAS BRATS (OSB) know at: joeosbpres@sbcglobal.net . OSB can provide FREE help.

-Want to get a mini-reunion or reunion going? Ask: joeosbpres@sbcglobal.net how. 

-Email: joeosbpres@sbcglobal.net about "Brats Oktoberfest" or "Homecoming 2016."

• Colorado Brats regional get-together, August 17, 2014 in Colorado Springs. 
• "Brats Oktoberfest," October 2-5, 2014 in New Braunfels, TX.
• "Homecoming 2016" happening August 4-7, 2016 at the Hotel Elegante Conference & Event Center in Colorado Springs, CO.

    

6.  Weekly OSB updates. 

• Get these by 'liking' on Facebook:  Official OVERSEAS BRATS Fan Page.

7. You. 

• Former students and alumni on the email list who are not members of OVERSEAS BRATS (OSB): 6,404. (You are included in this count.)
• Current and past OSB members on this email list: 1,000. 
• On Facebook: 'Likes' of: The Official OVERSEAS BRATS Fan Page = 3,029.
• Members of the: Overseas Brats (www.overseasbrats.com) group = 3,530.
• 247 DoDDS Educators receiving the email updates. Among these are 35 current/former members of OSB.
• 203 Brats & Educators came to regional events in Albuquerque,Central Texas (San Antonio), Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, and Southern California in January-February-March 2014.
• 84 Brats & Educators from 94 schools/bases/communities came to the 27th annual OSB gathering in Laughlin, NV, Oct. 10-13.
• 200 Brats & Educators from 133 schools/bases/communities partied at "Brats Beach Bash" aka the tri-annual Homecoming 2013 in Daytona Beach, Aug. 8-11.

OVERSEAS BRATS (OSB) new member benefits include:

*Past magazines (whatever is available, while supplies last);
*A bumper sticker to proudly proclaim your Brat heritage;*30 word ad in an upcoming of OSB magazine;
*Special recognition at OSB-hosted events.

Join us at: www.overseasbrats.com/membership.htm . 

Have a terrific day!

                                       Joe Condrill

                                 www.overseasbrats.com

If you wish to respond to this email please do not hit the reply button.

Email:  joeosbpres@sbcglobal.net .  Thanks!

ROCHEFORT AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL 2013 REUNION

Rochefort American High School was an American high school in a military facility at Rochefort, France.The School was far from the military bases, so the students lived in a dormitory.

We would stay through the week and then go home to the base on the weekends. We would commute on military buses from different military bases," Lance Burris, the group's President said. "They called us 'military brats.' It was a unique way to grow up."

The school building where we attended was once the headquarters of Napoleon before his exile. A moat is near the school building that had been blocked off so the French could build ships during World War II. "The moat had been drained but for the past five years they've been building a replica of the ship of Lafayette," Burris said. "We hope to travel to see the ship in 2015. They're going to sail the ship the path Lafayette took up the East Coast. Rochefort High School is on one of the sails of the ship." The frigate Hermione was linked to the Marquis de Lafayette. The original ship was built in 1779. It embarked on a trip from Rochefort to Boston in 1780.

Rochefort American High School was closed in 1958 when all US military bases were closed in France. Since then, every two years, those who attended the HS get together for a reunion somewhere in the United States. Theprevious reunion was held in Reno, Nev. This year it was held in the Indianapolis area.

Rochefort American High School - 2013 Reunion

October 1, 2013
Rochefort American High School was an American high school in a military facility at Rochefort, France.The School was far from the military bases, so the students lived in a dormitory.

We would stay through the week and then go home to the base on the weekends. We would commute on military buses from different military bases," Lance Burris, the group's President said. "They called us 'military brats.' It was a unique way to grow up."

The school building where we attended was once the headquarters of Napoleon before his exile. A moat is near the school building that had been blocked off so the French could build ships during World War II. "The moat had been drained but for the past five years they've been building a replica of the ship of Lafayette," Burris said. "We hope to travel to see the ship in 2015. They're going to sail the ship the path Lafayette took up the East Coast. Rochefort High School is on one of the sails of the ship." The frigate Hermione was linked to the Marquis de Lafayette. The original ship was built in 1779. It embarked on a trip from Rochefort to Boston in 1780.

Rochefort American High School was closed in 1958 when all US military bases were closed in France. Since then, every two years, those who attended the HS get together for a reunion somewhere in the United States. Theprevious reunion was held in Reno, Nev. This year it was held in the Indianapolis area.

ROCHEFORT AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL 2013 REUNION

October 1, 2013

Plainfield man organizes special reunion

By Brenda L. Holmes
SPEEDWAY — Most people have their class reunions near their childhood home. They go back to see their old haunts and maybe a few family members after visiting with high school classmates.

Plainfield’s Lance Burris has a different experience every time his school meets for a reunion.

Burris attended Rochefort American High School, which was an American high school in a military facility at Rohefort, France. He attended the school for his freshman, sophomore, and junior years of high school.

"My dad was in the Army and was stationed at a base which was 100 miles from where I went to school,” Burris said. “Because it was so far from the base, we lived in a dormitory. We would stay through the week and then go home to the base on the weekends.”

He said the experience helped him to mature earlier and become pretty self-sufficient.

“We would commute on military buses from different military bases,” he said. “They called us ‘military brats.’ It was a unique way to grow up.”

The school building where they attended was once the headquarters of Napoleon before his exile. Near the school building there was a moat that had been blocked off so the French could build ships during World War II.

“The moat had been drained but for the past five years they've been building a replica of the ship of Lafayette,” Burris said. “We hope to travel to see the ship in 2015. They're going to sail the ship the path Lafayette took up the East Coast. Rochefort High School is on one of the sails of the ship.”

The frigate Hermione was linked to the Marquis de Lafayette. The original ship was built in 1779. It embarked on a trip from Rochefort to Boston in 1780.

“Our alumni hope to be there to greet the ship,” Burris said.

RAHS closed in 1958 when all military bases were closed in France. Every two years, those who attended the school get together for a reunion some place in the United States. The last time there was a reunion it was held in Reno, Nev. This year it was held in the Indianapolis area.

Many of the students went on to serve in the military, including Burris who served in the U.S. Army.

Burris is currently serving as president of the Rochefort American High School Alumni. He decided he wanted to invite all of his former classmates to Indiana to experience the Circle City. Planned this weekend was a golf tournament at Fort Harrison, a dinner at St. Elmo downtown, a tour of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and museum, a guided tour of Indiana War Memorial, and a Yellow Buggy Carriage tour of downtown Indianapolis.

Many of the reunion activities took place at the Hilton Indianapolis Hotel/Suites where most of the reunion attendees stayed. The RAHS alumni do several activities while they're together. One of the traditions is to donate books to a local library wherever they have their reunion. This year, the group donated books to Indianapolis Public School 34.

Burris said he can remember traveling to France when the family was stationed there.

“We went on a ship out of New York,” he said. “It took eight days to cross. The ship we went on was a converted Army transfer ship.”

His parents were Avis and Ruth Burris. His father served in WW II and Korea.

Even though Burris spent most of his high school days in France, he ended up graduating from Horace Mann High School in 1957.

Burris was born in Kannapolis, N.C., and lived in several other places while growing up. He lived in Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas, and California.

After serving in the military, he went on to serve 23 years in law enforcement with the Hobart Police Department. He retired as the chief of detectives there in 1988.

He and his family moved to Plainfield in 1993 so he could become an instructor at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.

“I still work there as a master instructor,” Burris said.

He and his wife, Nancy, have two grown children, Brad and Brian Burris.

The Rochefort American High School Alumni Association has its own website where they share information on alumni and upcoming events. The website is www.rochefortfranceahs.org.

- See more at: http://flyergroup.com/local/x862171663/Plainfield-man-organizes-special-reunion#sthash.CKlePwFA.dpuf

2013 RAHS REUNION

MORE:

2013 Reunion Schedule-1.pdf

DEJA VU - AUGUST 2013

READ THE COMPLETE DEJA VU IN THIS LINK: 

Deja Vu VOLUME 18 ISSUE Aug 2013 (1).pdf

RAHS INDIANAPOLIS REUNION Sept 26-28, 2013

L'Hermione sur la Charente

Première sortie de l'Hermione sur la Charente
En 1997, l'association Hermione-La Fayette a lancé la reconstitution d'une frégate du XVIIIe siècle. Un incroyable chantier qui dure depuis quinze ans. En 2015, le navire quittera l'arsenal de Rochefort pour rejoindre Boston où La Fayette avait débarqué en 1780.

ROCHEFORT AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL 2012

The building that we utilized as our High School is seen in the upper righthand corner. Napoleon spent his last days there before going to exile.
MJ
Janvier 2012

THE HERMIONE

THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HERMIONE

Phase 1: the dismantling of the tent
During the closed season (January 1st until February 10) of the site of the Hermione, work continues in preparation for the installation of the boat-locks and the moving of the frigate to the Napoleon III drydock in July.

Preparing the launch: the sequel ...
Phase 2 : The shoring for the launch!
2012 was a pivotal year for the Hermione! After dismantling the tent that covered the Hermione in the double drydock where she was constructed, the ship was cleared of all its scaffolding and showed itself to the visitors, adorned with its original colors.

In order to be able to set the frigate afloat, which is planned for the middle of March, the company ASSELIN carpenters have now installed the shoring for the launch. This construction serves to keep the frigate in balance while still dry, and allows the gradual introduction of water into the dry dock.

************************************************************

Une hermione à l'air libre !

COMMENTS:

• Découvrez la pose du POD tribord, moteur à propulsion pesant 1,5t, installé à l'arrière de la frégate. Un compromis entre historicité et navigabilité, mais nécessaire aujourd'hui pour assurer la maniabilité du navire dans un port.
• Arrêtez de rager inutilement ! Ces POD sont OBLIGATOIRES pour naviguer avec l’Hermione, tout simplement parce qu’il est aujourd’hui totalement interdit de manœuvrer à la voile dans un port. Les POD serviront uniquement dans ce cas de figure. Des tas de concessions et de compromis ont était fait sur ce projet mais c’est toujours pour que le navire puis « vivre ». Et heureusement, sinon il n’aurait jamais pu prendre la mer. L’essentiel est bien là et c’est ce que compte.

These works will follow each other and will take approximately 1 ½ months. 
Click here to see the VIDEO!

INDIANAPOLIS ! HERE WE COME...!!!

A Reunion Note From the President
Here it is………..your Indianapolis “teaser.”  I want to get you ready to come to Indianapolis for the 2013 reunion, so I will be sending you some sights to wet your whistle and enlist your interest.  I am about to wrap up a deal with a downtown hotel which is close to everything and one block from the State Capitol Building and the Soldier/Sailor Monument Circle. 
Lance

The Rochefort American High School Students commuted from different cities and towns in France. Here are some photographs of Blaye and Bussac, France, where there was a US Army Base. Many of us lived there.  Lance Burris, President of the RAHS Association contributed many of these photographs.

We welcome your contribution to this collection of photos which are treasured by our RAHS alumni. Please send them to mjean1@gmail.com and we will post them. MJ

50s & 60's MUSIC & TV OLDIES

              Click on:     OUR JUKEBOX

ROCHEFORT AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL
1953 - 1958
Rochefort American High School ...was one of the many schools opened in France during the 50's to educate military dependents. It was located in the small coastal town of Rochefort Sur Mer, France which had an important Naval port. Today, the site where our school was, has become the MARINE MUSEUM.

Rochefort has an active Alumni Association and a data base of over 250 former students. The Alumni Association frequently celebrate large and mini reunions and have traveled to Rochefort Sur Mer in France, to visit the city where the school was established.

We continue to search for the other approximately 300 alumni who attended Rochefort during its short existence from 1953-58.

Rochefort American High School - Gaby Bryant in photo.

THE MILITARY DEPENDENTS SCHOOL SYSTEM

Dept of Defense American High Schools Abroad for Military Dependents

Many US Military Dependents had the opportunity to live in foreign countries with their families and are often referred to as "overseas brats".  Many fellow Brats have blogged about their experiences overseas and in the U.S., in various web sites, such as Military Brats Online as well as Military Brat Life.

For young people, being able to experience life and culture in different countries gives them a perspective on the world and insight into other cultures. Many of these "Brats" had world events experiences, especially where they lived as a youngster. As the mission of the military changes, bases and posts throughout the world open and close and schools and communities become memories.

Joe Condrill has an organization called Overseas Brats, which hosts regional gatherings throughout the U.S., and publishes a newsletter with news about alumni groups. Rochefort American High School was one of the many schools opened in France during the 50's for military dependents. 


The following site has yearbooks from almost all Overseas Military Schools from those years: www.berlinbrats.org/yearbooks.htm


Rochefort American High School has an active Alumni Association and a data base of over 250 former students. The Alumni Association frequently celebrate large and mini reunions and have traveled to Rochefort Sur Mer in France, to visit the city where the school was established.

We continue to search for the other approximately 300 alumni who attended Rochefort during its short existence from 1953-58.

If you are one of us, please let us know:

MORE: 
http://www.rochefortfranceahs.org/


CONTACTS
Miriam Ramirez '58
mjean1@gmail.com

CURRENT OFFICERS
Lance Burris '57, president
lanceburris@sbcglobal.net or lburris@ilea.in.gov